Already considered one of the least healthy states in the nation, according to the United Health Foundation’s list of America’s Health Rankings, Oklahoma recently dropped to the 47th healthiest state. Additionally, early on during the Covid-19 lockdown, many people chose to stay in opting to ignore physical activity. However, that has changed and with nicer weather, we are now seeing more and more people outside and getting more exercise by walking, running or biking in many of our local or neighborhood parks and trails.

Fortunately, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation’s Wellness Initiative is working to combat the low health statistic in Oklahoma. Last spring, the Community Foundation reimagined portions of the initiative and launched KeepMovingOKC.org, an interactive events calendar that offers resources and other information to help you stay active and enhance your overall health and well-being.

“The Community Foundation has championed this initiative for several years,” said vice president, director of community engagement Kelley Barnes. “But, with the help of Talita DeNegri, who chairs our Wellness Committee, we developed a strategy to strengthen our initiative and felt the rebrand was perfectly timed. We are excited to work with our community to identify partners who offer physical activity events for a cross section of our population”.

KeepMovingOKC.org is a website for individuals and families interested in making healthy lifestyle choices by connecting them with free or low-cost physical fitness opportunities. In addition, you can discover fun and engaging ways to explore the metro. Whether it’s walking, running, biking or so much more, there are endless possibilities to keep moving.

As the KeepMovingOKC manager, Kristi Birk-Steinberg has hit the ground running, reaching out to organizations throughout the metro to help promote their physical activity events and grow the website.

“I love the idea of people feeling better about themselves by living healthier lifestyles – and it all starts with physical activity,” Kristi said. “We are encouraging people to get outside and move while there is still plenty of good weather.”

With fall on the horizon, there are many opportunities to keep moving, and KeepMovingOKC.org is a perfect place to discover what the city has to offer.

If you would like more information on how to share your event on KeepMovingOKC.org, contact Kristi Birk-Steinberg at (405) 606-2952.

Roy and Darlene Thornton never had children of their own, but that didn’t stop the Mid-Del couple from positively impacting youth in their community. With the help of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, the Thorntons created the Roy Edward Thornton and Darlene Young Thornton Scholarship to support local students committed to community service.

 “If these were our children, what can we do,” asked Roy. “Well, we can do a lot. We are not rich or anything like that, but we can get things done.”

The Thorntons didn’t have an extraordinary amount of money to give, but they knew the size of their donation didn’t matter, they could still make a difference. The scholarship fund the Thorntons started in 2013 has grown from a $1,000 award supporting two recipients each year to a $2,100 award supporting seven recipients each year.

Del City High School graduate Kya McFadden is a 2019 recipient of the Thornton’s scholarship. An active student always involved in community service, Kya met with her guidance counselor and they determined the Thornton’s scholarship was the perfect fit for her. Kya now studies education at Langston University and hopes to  become a teacher and give back to others.

“If I had the opportunity to meet with the Thorntons or members from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, I would tell them thank you for all they’re doing for students like myself and thank you for the opportunities they’re providing,” said Kya. “If it had not been for them, I don’t know if I would be where I am right now.”

The Roy Edward and Darlene Young Thornton Scholarship is one of more than 130 permanently-endowed scholarship opportunities available to students throughout Oklahoma. As the largest independent scholarship provider in the state, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation awarded $2.5 million in scholarships to nearly 800 students in the 2019-20 academic year.

If you’d like more information on how you can establish your own unique scholarship to help deserving students in our community, contact Joe Carter at (405) 606-2914 today.